LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has appealed to the public to strictly observe safety measures during Basant celebrations and thanked people for their enthusiastic response to the festival.
In a statement on Tuesday, she said permission for Basant had been granted only in Lahore on February 6, 7 and 8, while kite-flying remained banned in the rest of Punjab. She said the response to the Basant pilot project exceeded expectations and that other cities would be reviewed after assessing its success. Calling Basant a traditional festival of Punjab, she urged citizens to celebrate it while also ensuring their own safety and that of others. She said all departments had made concerted efforts to make Basant foolproof across the provincial capital.
The chief minister announced that travel on 419 buses, metro bus services, the Orange Line train and 6,000 Yango rickshaws would be free during the festival. She said more than 700,000 motorcycles in Lahore had been fitted with safety rods and free safety rod installation camps had been set up. She outlined kite specifications, stating that the kite size would be 35×30 inches and the spool size 40×34 inches, while only cotton string consisting of nine threads would be allowed. Metallic wire, chemical string and other prohibited materials would invite strict legal action. Kites and string could also be sourced from outside Lahore if required.
The chief minister said kite-flying would not be allowed in civil aviation areas and that only registered manufacturers, sellers, traders and associations would be permitted to supply QR code-embedded kites and string. She added that thermal drone surveillance was being conducted across all areas, including at night, with real-time monitoring in place.
She said the government did not want to punish people but enforcement of the law was necessary for public safety. QR codes on every kite and spool would enable real-time tracking. Emergency arrangements have been finalised, including the deployment of ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and motorcycle rescue units, while assistant commissioners are heading quick response teams in every tehsil of Lahore. Dangerous buildings have been surveyed and fitness certificates obtained.
She said violations of the Punjab Regulation of Kite-flying Act and its rules could result in imprisonment ranging from five to seven years and fines of up to Rs5 million. Lahore has been divided into three zones — high risk, yellow and green — with dedicated safety camps established in each zone.
The chief minister said Basant boosted economic activity worth billions of rupees, benefiting kite manufacturers, hotels and restaurants. The festival is now gaining international recognition and the government aims to promote Punjab’s culture globally while ensuring a safe environment.
Also. the chief minister has taken notice of alleged torture of Ghulam Murtaza, husband of Saadia who died after falling into a manhole at Bhati Gate. Police sources said it has been decided to conduct a medical examination of Murtaza to determine the nature of the alleged torture. Investigations have been initiated following the chief minister’s notice.
